UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS PERCEPTIONS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE - THE IMPACT OF VICTIM SEX, PERPETRATOR SEX, RESPONDENT SEX, AND VICTIM RESPONSE

Written descriptions of sexual interaction between an adult and. a 15-year-old were utilized to study the impact of victim sex, perpetrator sex, respondent sex, and victim response (i.e., encouraging, passive, resisting) on labeling of child sexual abuse, perception of realistic victim behavior, and effect on the child. Results of responses collected from 180 male and 180 female undergraduate students revealed that participants tended to view the interaction of a male victim with a female perpetrator as less representative of child sexual abuse. Respondents also thought that male victims of this interactional pattern would experience less harm than would victims of other interactional types (e.g., female victim-male perpetrator). Findings are discussed with regard to their generalizability and the need for child sexual abuse education programs. © 1991 Plenum Publishing Corporation.